It began as a gallant gesture. An off-the-clock bartender offered to walk a female patron home. But the night would lead to a punctured lung, two surgeries and medical bills that could go as high as $100,000.

Mike Boone of Trusty's Bar in Washington, D.C.'s East Hill neighborhood was walking a customer home earlier this month when a man grabbed the woman's purse. Boone fended off the attacker but the fight left him with eight stab wounds, which included a punctured lung, Washington radio station WTOP reports.

Mike Boone in front of some of his artwork[Photo: wtop.com]

"A lot of people think that I did a foolish thing and they wouldn't do that," Boone, who has no medical insurance, told WTOP. But he added that he strongly disagrees. "People need to stand up."

Boone told WUSA that the would-be robber jumped out from behind bushes or an alley and grabbed the woman's purse. Boone says that he then wrestled the man to the ground. Read more;